Economic Development

City Planning

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56th Avenue - Quebec Street to Peña Boulevard

56th Avenue is an important route for local access and regional mobility in the northeast quadrant of Denver and is one of the few continuous east-west arterials in this area. The ongoing transformation of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal to a National Wildlife Refuge, as well as the continuing development of Commerce City’s Prairie Gateway site and the Stapleton Redevelopment area, have put a renewed focus on the role of 56th Avenue in the City’s transportation network.

The City and County of Denver’s strategic land use planning and transportation plans, including Blueprint Denver, recognize this area’s unprecedented new growth. 56th Avenue has become a major arterial for residential and commercial traffic. Major private and public development contributing to this growth in traffic include:

Commercial and residential development associated with Denver International Airport’s Gateway Area, including the ongoing development of Green Valley Ranch.

The ongoing heavy equipment mission of U.S. Army Reserve’s Martinez Center.

Operational growth of the United States Postal Service bulk mail facility.

The opening of the Colorado Rapids soccer stadium, the 24 adjacent practice fields, and future retail in the area known as the Prairie Gateway.

The opening of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge to public visitation.

Planned residential and commercial development associated with the redevelopment of the former Stapleton International Airport, including the planned construction of two new Denver public schools.

Major concept planning for the 56th Avenue corridor was conducted in 2004, resulting in the East 56th Avenue Corridor Concept Plan. The plan was sponsored and facilitated by the Northeast Metro Win-Win Coalition—a multi-jurisdictional coordination group that focuses on issues and concerns of the northeast quadrant of the Denver metro area.

Building on this important conceptual work, in early 2007, the City secured federal funding and initiated a comprehensive environmental planning and roadway design evaluation for the improvement of the six-mile long segment of the East 56th Avenue corridor from Quebec Street east to Peña Boulevard. A corridor study will identify corridor congestion and safety issues, evaluate valued resources in the corridor, and develop multi-modal improvement options. A federally required Environmental Assessment will be prepared for the segment of the corridor that can be improved with currently available and committed construction funds.

Throughout the Corridor Study and Environmental Assessment process, the City will engage the corridor stakeholders in the planning process, including the residents and business owners in the neighborhoods of Montbello, Parkfield, and Green Valley Ranch.